About
I’m available to teach private lessons for teens and adults interested in learning 1) tap, 2) ballet or 3) fitness. I teach almost all levels, ranging from brand newbies to more experienced artists who want to improve their skills.
My strengths are patience, enthusiasm, and an unusual way of approaching music and dance. I’m not famous or particularly interested in becoming famous, so if that’s your goal, I’m not the right teacher for you.
I strongly believe everyone can dance, and should. All bodies can learn to dance and enjoy themselves. Dance should be joyful, about self-expression, and a way of learning about your body and your spirit.
Finally, I believe it’s never too late to start learning something new, and your bucket list should not wait until you retire. I have been teaching dance for 5 years, mainly to adults. Finally, I taught history in at-risk high schools for 8 years.
My website is kristenhelenpoppe.com and I can be found on Instagram @kristenhelenpoppe
I am the luckiest person in the world to do what I do! I love seeing other people light up when they discover new things their body can do, or when they unlock something that seemed previously impossible, or when they can finally learn something they've been dreaming about for years.
Dance is about more than learning steps, it's about body awareness and listening to your body, self-expression, remaining young, consciously being vulnerable, challenging your brain--and watching my students open up each of these gifts of dance is the most rewarding thing ever.
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Frequently asked questions
What is your typical process for working with a new student?
I start by discussing my student's goals with them. Everyone comes to dance for specific reasons, and I am fully committed to helping each student reach their goals. I then need to assess where the student is at, and think about what path we might take to get from their current place, to their goal.
I want the first class to be fun (because dance is SO fun, and we should never lose sight of that!) and encouraging. The first few classes are often hard, and can be discouraging, especially if you are coming back from a long break, or one of those people who believes they have two left feet. Learning dance takes time, so I'm all about noticing small improvements, celebrating every success, loving the process, and being super forgiving of ourselves.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I started dance as an adult, so all my dance training happened in local studios. Because I started late, I had many hurdles to overcome (weakness, inflexibility, lack of dance vocabulary, lack of confidence, more difficulty remembering combos, etc.) But beause I had those hurdles, I threw myself into it, and was extremely motivated to "catch up." I've attended many dance festivals, and learned from a dozen teachers, across many studios.
Do you have a standard pricing system for your lessons? If so, please share the details here.
I charge $1/minute, so cost will depend on lesson length. I give a discount if you attend multiple lessons per week.
How did you get started teaching?
I started teaching high school history just out of college. It was an amazing 8 years, but they were tough years as I was teaching in inner-city or at-risk schools. I learned a ton about patience, explaining in multiple different ways, keeping students engaged, and not taking myself too seriously. When I quit teaching, I wanted to become a dancer, and quickly realized that I loved getting other people excited about dancing too. So as I learn and grow as a dancer and musician, I am passing on my experience and passion on to my students.
What types of students have you worked with?
I almost exclusively work with adults. I taught for 8 years in public schools with teenagers, and I'm excited now to work with a different population. I've worked with absolute beginners, as well as adults who have been dancing or playing a good amount of their lives. I've worked with students of all races, genders, ages, body types, ability levels, visual learners, kinesthetic learners, slow learners, fast learners, perfectionists, and more!